Forgive me if my fantasies
Might seem a little shopworn.
I'm sure you've heard it all before.
I wonder what's the right form
Love songs written for you,
It's been going down for years
But to sing what's in my heart
Seems more honest than the tears.
I am curious,
Don't want to hurry us.
I'm intrigued with us.
Ain't this song a bust.
I don't care, dark star.

I met you several years ago,
The times they were so strange,
But I had a feeling.
You looked into my eyes just once,
An instant flashing by that we were stealing.
Another time you felt so bad,
And I wasn't any help at all, as I recall.
We didn't quite know what to do
So we left the wanting be
Still there for me and you.

Dark star, I see you in the morning,
Dark star, a'sleeping next to me.
Dark star, let the memory of the evening be
The first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile
And see me, dark star.

It's easy to be with you
Even with the storms that rage
Beneath your search for peace.
We must make some time together
Take the kids and find a world that's ours to keep.
Now you've got me dreaming girl.
It's been so long that I thought that I'd forgotten how.
My heart is once again my soul.
We touched, we did, you know we did,
No more teasing now.

Dark star, I see you in the morning,
Dark star, a'sleeping next to me.
Dark star, let the memory of the evening be
The first thing that you think of
When you open up your smile
And see me, dark star.

6 Comments

General CommentI never once thought this was about a one-night stand. In fact, I always thought it was about a very long-term relationship and more likely a marriage ("take the kids"). If you follow the theme of the album, this relationship has become stale, but Stills is devoted to this woman because of how invested his life is in hers. To me it describes an isolated hot moment in a relationship which has long been cold. He compares this sexual encounter to being like when they had first been together.

Furthermore, although I wouldn't totally discount the idea it's about a black woman as I am the one-night stand theory, I think the idea of her being a "Dark Star" is more at how the post-lovey-dovey period feelings of sparking a new romance left her and emptied her love for him, though his love for her has been strengthened by unconditional devotion despite the loss of that initial sexual attraction.

General CommentIt's about Still's looking at a relationship with a Dark-Skinned woman and the taboo that was in the South. Stills is a native of Louisiana and knows the prejudices of society. To be white and with a black intimately would be the biggest taboo of his upbringing but he thinks more of her than the taboo.

General CommentA "Dark star" is a star that has burned out its light (as all stars evenually do). I don't think it is about a black woman. Rather, it's a song about an old girlfriend/ex wife. The song may be inspired by one of his loves from the 60s (the times they were so strange) that he can't get out of his mind, but who really knows?